Paul Domowitch

STAFF WRITER

Paul Domowitch is a pro football writer for the Inquirer and Daily News, where he has worked since 1982. He has covered nearly 30 Super Bowls and has been a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the last 15 years.

I filled out my ballot for the Associated Press All-Pro team and awards earlier today. Here are my selections, along with a few comments:

OFFENSE

Wide Receiver

Demaryius Thomas, Broncos

Brandon Marshall, Bears

Tight End

Jimmy Graham, Saints

Tackle

Jason Peters, Eagles

Joe Thomas, Browns

*Peters wasn’t quite as dominant as he was two years ago before he ruptured his Achilles twice. But he still was one of the two best tackles in the league.

Guard

Evan Mathis, Eagles

Louis Vasquez, Broncos

*The problem with being a late bloomer like Mathis is people are reluctant to believe he’s become this good. But he has. He’s the best interior lineman in the league right now.

Center

John Sullivan, Vikings

*I deliberated long and hard between Sullivan and the Eagles’ Jason Kelce. Went back and looked at five other Vikings games in addition to their win over the Eagles. It was close. Kelce is the most athletic center in the league and he is, as Chip Kelly said, a coach on the field. But coming back from the torn ACL this season, he had a few games where he struggled a little bit, mainly the two Giants games.

Quarterback

Peyton Manning, Broncos

Running Back

LeSean McCoy, Eagles

Jamaal Charles, Chiefs

Fullback

John Kuhn, Packers

Placekicker

Matt Prater, Broncos

Kick Returner

Dwayne Harris, Cowboys

DEFENSE

Defensive End

Robert Quinn, Rams

J.J. Watt, Texans

Defensive Tackle

Gerald McCoy, Bucs

Marcell Dareus, Bills

Outside Linebacker

Robert Mathis, Colts

Lavonte David, Bucs

*Mathis, who had a league-high 19 ½ sacks, was a no-brainer. I’m guessing another 3-4 edge-rushing linebacker like the Chiefs’ Justin Houston will get the second spot here. But I wanted to give a little love to a 4-3 outside ‘backer. David is a terrific all-around player who had a great season.

Inside Linebacker

Luke Kuechly, Panthers

Karlos Dansby, Cardinals

Cornerback

Richard Sherman, Seahawks

Patrick Peterson, Cardinals

Safety

Earl Thomas, Seahawks

Eric Berry, Chiefs

Punter

Brandon Fields, Dolphins

*I considered a couple of others, including the Eagles’ Donnie Jones. But Fields finished second in both gross and net average and put as many punts inside the 20 as Jones.

AWARDS

MVP

Peyton Manning, Broncos

*If I could pick two players, McCoy would have been my second choice. When I consider MVP candidates, I try to gauge where their teams would’ve been without them. The Eagles would’ve been in deep doo-doo without McCoy. But the Broncos would’ve been up to their neck in it without Manning.

Coach of the Year

Bill Belichick, Patriots

*Lots of deserving candidates for this one, including the Eagles’ Chip Kelly, the Panthers’ Ron Rivera, the Saints’ Sean Payton, the Chiefs’ Andy Reid, the Bengals’ Marvin Lewis and the Cardinals’ Bruce Arians, who won it last year with the Colts. This usually goes to a guy who has turned a team around, which is why Rivera, Kelly or Reid probably will win it. But Belichick keeps retooling the Patriots and keeps winning. Yes, his quarterback has more than a little to do with that. But if not now, when?

Comeback Player of the Year

Jason Peters, Eagles

*The guy has come back from not one, but two Achilles ruptures to play at an All-Pro level. Thought long and hard about Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who has come back strong from three torn ACLs. But he played 15 games last season, when he lost out to Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson. Figured the statute of limitations had run out on him.

Defensive Rookie

Kiko Alonso, LB, Bills

Offensive Rookie

Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers

Defensive Player of the Year

Luke Kuechly, MLB, Panthers

Offensive Player of the Year

Peyton Manning, Broncos

*The guy threw an NFL-record 55 touchdown passes. With all due respect to Shady winning the league rushing title, this one was a no-brainer.